2009 AUDI Q7 towing

Table of contents
Table of contents
Vehicle literature ... ..... .
About this Owner's Manual .............. ...... . .
Controls and
equipment .. .. .... ..... ... . .
Inst rumen ts and con trols ..... .
Genera l ill ustration ............. .
Instruments and
warning/indica tor lig hts ....... .
Instruments .............. ..... .
Warning/indicator lights ... ..... .
Driver in forma tio n d isplay ..... .
Introduct ion ..... ...... ... ..... .
On-Board Diagnostic system (OBD)
Auto Check Control ............ .
Speed warning system ... ...... .
Trip computer ................. .
Tire pressure monitoring system ..
Op ening and closing .......... .
Keys ... ......... ... .. .... .. ... .
Powe r locking system .......... .
Rear lid ....................... .
Ch ild safe ty lock . ... ..... ... ... .
5
6
9
11
11
1 3
1 3
1 7
25
25
29
30
38
40
42
48
48 52
57
61
Convenience key .... ... .... ... .
Ant i-theft a larm system ........ .
Power w indows
Panoram ic s lid in g sunroof ..... .
Clear vision ... .... .. ... .. ... .. .
Lights ................ ... ... .. .
Interior lights ...... .. ... .... .. .
V is ion ... .. ............. ... .. . .
W iper and washer system ...... .
Mirrors .... ... ......... ..... . . .
Digital compass ............... .
Seats and sto rage .. ... ..... .. .
Genera l recommendat ions ..... .
Power seat ...... . .. ......... . .
Adjusting front passenger 's seat
manually .......... ........... .
Seat memory ...... ........... .
Rear seats .. ............... ... .
H ead res train ts ... ......... ... .
Arm res t .......... ........... .
Long center console ... ... .... . .
Luggage compartment .. ... .. . .
Roof rack ..................... .
Cup holder . ... ... ... ... ... .... .
As htray .... ... ............ ... .
Cigarette lighter/socket ....... . .
Storage .... ............... ... .
Warm and cold ............ .. . .
Climate control .. .. ....... .• ...
Rear A ir Condition ing ....... ... .
Basic settings . ... ... ... ... ... . .
Hea ted Sea ts ......... ... .... . .
On the road . ... ............ ... .
Stee ring ... .. .......... ..... .. .
Ignition lock and ignition sw itch .
61
63
64
67
73
7 3
78
80
81
86
89
92
92
93
96
97
98
101
103
103
10 4
1 12
1 14
1 16
1 17
119
123
123
131
134
136
140
140
142 Starting and stopping the engine
Sta rting and stopping the eng ine
w ith Convenience key .... ..... . .
Parking brake ................. .
S ta rt ing on h ills ..... .. ... ... .. .
Cruise control .......... ... ... . .
A dap tive Cruise Control ....... .
Speed and dis tance con trol system
Driver information ............. .
System limitations .. ...... .... . .
Audi brak ing guard ........... . .
A udi lane assist ............... .
Lane assist ...... ... ... ...... . .
Audi side ass is t .. .. ... .... .... .
Lane Change Assistant .. ..... .. .
Notes ..... ........ .... ...... . .
Automatic transmission ....... .
tiptronic® (6 -speed automatic
transm ission) .......... ....... .
Advanced Pa rking System .... .
Advanced Parking System with rea r
view camera .................. .
Specia l par king sit uations ..... . .
Towing hitch .. ..... .... ... ... . .
Settings in the MMI .. ... .. ..... .
Safety t ips ................... . .
Adaptive Air Suspension ... .. . .
Air suspension and damping
Home link® .... .... ... .. ...... . .
Universa l remote control ... .... .
143
144
147
148
149
152
152
160
165
168
171
171
174
17 4
181
18 4
184
191
191
199
201 201
20 4
206 206
2 14
2 14

Safety first ........ ... ... .. .
Driving Safely ........... ...... .
Genera l notes . .... ....... ... .. .
Proper occ upant sea ting positions
Peda l area ... ................. .
Sto\Ning luggage . .... .... .... . .
Reporting Sa fety Defects ....... .
Safety belts ................... .
General notes ...... ........... .
W hy safe ty belts? .. ... .. ... ... .
Safety belts ..... ........ ... .. .
Safety belt pretensioners ...... .
Airbag sy stem ..... ...... ..... .
Important t hings to kno\N ...... .
Front airbags . ... ... .......... .
Monitoring the Advanced Airbag
System .... ......... ......... .
Side airbags ......... .... .. ... .
Side curtain a irbags ...... ..... .
Child Safety .............. ..... .
Impo rtant things to kno\N ...... .
Child safety seats . ....... ... .. .
Insta lling a ch ild safe ty seat . ... .
Add it ional Information ......... .
219
220
220
222
226
227
229
231
231
232
235
239
241
241
245
252
257
260
263
263
268
2 73
276
Lo\Ner anchorages and tether for
ch ildren (LA TC H) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
278
Vehicle operation . . . . . . . . 287
Inte lligent technology . . . . . . . . . . 288
Not ice about d ata reco rded by
ve hicle contro l modules . . . . . . . . .
288
Elect ronic S tabilizat ion Program
(ESP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
288
B raking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Servotronic® -advanced po\Ner
s teer ing syst em . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
293
Driv ing \Nit h your quatt ro® . . . . . . 294
Energy management . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Driving a nd enviro nment . . . . . . . 297
The first 1,000 m iles (1 ,500 km) and
after\Na rds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
297
Cata lytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Avo id damaging the vehic le . . . . . 299
Opera te your vehicle economically
and minimize pollution . . . . . . . . . .
299
Dri ving off road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Driving in diffic ult roa d co nd it ions
a nd o ffro ad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
302
Trailer towing ............. .... .
Driv ing \Nit h a trailer ...... ..... .
T rai le r to\Ning tips .. .... ..... .. .
305
305
308
Table of contents
Vehicle care ....... ... ... ... 311
C leaning and protection ........ 312
Ge ner al in fo rm atio n . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 12
Care of exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 12
Care of inte rior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 19
F u el su pp ly and fillin g your fuel
ta nk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Gaso line . . . . . . . . • . . . . • . . . . . . . . . 325
Fuel tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
C heck in g and filling . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Engine hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Engi ne cooling sys te1 T1 . . . . . . . . . . 33 7
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Batt ery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
W indshield/headlight \Nasher
containe r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
346
T ires a nd w hee ls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 7
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

Table of contents
Do-it-yourself service ... 369
What do I do now? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
J ack, too ls and inflatable spa re t ire 3 70
Changing a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 73
Fuses and bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Bu lbs ............. ...... ....... 385
E m ergency si tuatio ns . . . . . . . . . . 387
Genera l ... ............ ... ..... .
Starting by pushing or towing ... .
Start ing with jumper cab les ..... .
u f. b l
se o Jumper ca es ........... .
Emerge ncy towi ng wi th comme rcia l 387
387
387
388
tow truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390
Lif ting vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392
Technical data
General i nform ati on 39
5
396
E xpl anation of technical data 396
Vehic le identification . . . . . . . . . . . . 396
Displaying Vehic le Identification
Number in the MMI . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397 Weights
Dimensions . ... ............ ... .
Da ta
280 hp, 6 -cylinde r engine, with a ll
w hee l d rive ... ......... ...... . .
350 hp, 8 -cylinder engine, with all
whee l drive ............. ...... .
Consumer Informat ion .... .... .
Wa rranty coverages ...... ..... .
Op erating yo ur vehicle outs ide th e
U.S.A. or Canada ...... ... .... . .
Audi Se rv ice Repa ir Manuals and
Literature ..................... .
Maint enance .. .. ... ... ... .... .
Add it ional accessor ies,
mod ificat ions and parts
rep lacement ... .. ... .. .. .. ... . .
Dec laration of Compliance,
Telecommunications and E lectronic
Systems ... .... ... ... .... ... .. . 397
398
399
399
400
4 01
401
401
401
401
403
40 4
Alphabetical index . . . . . . 407

Instruments and warning/indicator lights
& WARNING
If you have a malfunct ion in the airbag system, contact your autho­
rized Audi dealer immediately. Otherwise the airbag or the belt
tensioner may not work properly in an accident. •
Tire pressure monitoring system -telltale
indicator lamp '-)
The warning/indicator light appears in the event of a
significant loss of air pressure .
The ( warning/indicator light il luminates for a few seconds after
the ignition is turned on as function check and then goes out.
If the symbo l appears, pressure is too low in at least one tire.
When the system detects a malfunction, the warning/indicator light
will flash for approximately one minute and then remain continu­ ously i lluminated . This sequence wi ll continue upon subsequent
vehic le starts up as long as the malfunction exists. Contact your
authorized Audi dealer and have the malfunction corrected .
For more information
=> page 44. •
Turn signals ¢ Q
The indicator light blinks when you use either turn signal.
Whenever you use the left ¢i or the right¢ turn signal, the ind icator
light blinks. When you use the emergency flashers, both indicator
lights flash .
If one of the turn signal light bulbs burn out, the turn signal will
blink twice as fast as normal.
This does not apply, however, in towing mode . The indicator light
does not flash if a turn signal is out on the trailer or the towing
vehic le. Additional information on the turn signa ls=>
page 77 . •
App lies to vehicles: wi th tow ing h itch
Trailer turn signal assembly ¢ 19
The indicator light also blinks if the turn signal is operated
when towing a trailer.
The indicator light ¢1i> bl inks when the turn signal is used, if a trailer
has been properly connected to the vehicle.
If one of the turn signa l bu lbs on the trailer is burned out or defec ­
tive, the indicator light will not b link when you use the turn signals.
[ i ] Tips
For vehicles with a factory installed towing hitch or a trailer hitch
that was installed later according to factory specifications, the
trailer turn signa l assembly is actuated. •
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) :,
The Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIU is part of the On-Board Diag ­
nostic (OBD II) system. The symbo l lights up when the ignition is
turned on and will turn off after the engine has started and has
settled at a constant idle speed . This indicates that the MIL is
working properly.
The warning light il luminates when there is a malfunction in the
engine electronic system. Contact your authorized Audi dealer and
have the malfunction corrected.
An improperly closed fuel filler cap may also cause the MIL light to
illuminate
=> page 327.
For more information => page 29. •

Opening and closing
• If the rear l id on a locked vehicle is unlocked with the middle
button
~ on the remote key, the rear lid is automatically locked
again immediately after closing . This is indicated by the turn signals
blinking.
• The following applies to vehicles equipped with the Convenience
key* feature: if the remote control key is left in the luggage compart ­
ment, luggage compartment will automatically unlock itself after
you lock the vehicle . This prevents you from unintentionally locking
your key in the luggage compartment.
• If the vehicle battery charge drops below a certain level , you can
still open or close the rear lid manually , however , you will need to
apply more force to close it.
• As soon as the electrical connection to the trailer so cke t is
completed on vehicles with a factory installed towing hitch, or a
trailer hitch tha t was installed later according to factory specifica­
tions, the automatic rear lid function can only be operated via the
handle in the rear lid. •
Rear lid emergency unlocking
If the rear lid cannot be opened, an emergency release is
provided.
------------------! ~
:
'
Fig. 44 Section of the
luggage compartme nt:
Access to emergency
relea se
- Tilt the seatback forward.
Move into the trunk.
Fig. 45 Section of the
luggage compartme nt:
Emergency release
-Take the screwdriver from the vehicle tool kit. As an alter ­
native, you can also use the vehicle key.
Put the flat side of the screw driver into the recess and
pry the cover up=> fig. 44 -Arrow-.
Press the lever in the direct ion of the arrow => fig. 45 to
unlock the rear lid.•

[ i J Ti ps
You should turn on the emergency flashers when:
• you are the last vehicle standing in a traffic jam so that any other
vehicles coming can see you, or when
• your vehicle has broken down or you are in an emergency s itua ­
tion, or when
• your vehicle is being towed by a tow truck or if you are towing
another vehicle behind you .•
Turn signal ¢ ¢ and high beam ~D lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column is used to
operate the turn signals and the high beam as well as the
headlight flasher .
-"' M
-w ... m
Fig. 66 Tu rn sign al and
hig h bea m lever
The turn signal and high beam lever has the following func­
tions:
Turn sign als ¢ ¢
- Lift the lever up all the way=> fig. 66 (D to use the right
turn s ignals, or push the lever down all the way@ to use
the left turn signals.
Con tro ls and eq uip­
ment
C lea r v is ion
Au to-blink
- Move the lever (up or down) just to the point of resis ­
tance to use the turn signals for as long as you need
them, for example when changing lanes .
- Move the lever (up or down) just to the point of resis­
tance and then release it right away to make the turn signals blink
three times . You can use this feature for
example when changing lanes on highways.
High b eam ~D
- P ush the lever forward ® to switc h on the high beam.
- P ull the lever back towards you to switch off the high
beam.
H ea dlight fl asher ~D
Pull the lever toward the steering wheel © to use the
headlight flasher.
N otes o n these fea tures
• The turn signals only work with the ignition turned on . The indi ­
cator lights ¢ or¢ in the instrument cluster=> page 17 also blink.
• After you have turned a corner , the turn signal sw itches off auto ­
matically .
• The high beam works only when the head lights are on . The indi ­
cator light [D in the instru ment cluster i llum inates when the high
beams are on.
• The headligh t flash er works only as long as you hold the lever -
even if there are no lights turned on. The indicator light [0 in the
instrument cluster illuminates when you use the headlight flasher . .,,_
Vehicle care I I Technical data

On th e road 11111 _________________________________ __::..:....:.......;,;_;_;_ _ __;____,J
Switching the ignition on
- Press t he [ S TART] button once to the first stage to switch
on on ly the ignition.
Starting the engine
- Step on t he brake.
- Move the se lector leve r to t he P or N posit ion
~ & .
- Press the [ STA RT ] button to t he second s tage to star t the
engine.
After a cold engine is started, there may be a brief period of
increased noise because oil pressure must first bui ld up in the
hydraulic valve adjusters . This is norma l and not a cause for
concern.
If the engine does not start immed iately, stop trying after 10
seconds and then try to restart the engine about 30 seconds later.
& WARNING
Nev er allow the engine to run in confined spa ce s · danger of
asphyxi atio n.
0 Note
• Avo id high engi ne rp m, full throttle and heavy engine loads unti l
the engine has reached operating temperature · otherwise you risk
engine damage .
• T he engin e cannot be started by pushing or towing the vehic le.
c£> For the sake of the environment
Do not allow the engine to warm up with the vehicl e stationary . Star t
driving right away . In this way you avo id unnecessary emissions .
Contro ls and eq uip­
ment
[ i ] Tip s
If you open the driver's door when t he ign itio n is switched on, a
buzzer sounds and the message
Ign ition i s on appears in the instru ­
ment cluster display. P lease switch the ignition off. •
Applies to vehic les : w ith C onv en ien ce key
Switching engine off with the [STOP] button
Bring yo ur vehicle to a comp le te sto p.
Fig. 155 Convenien ce
key: E NGIN E STO P
button
Move the se lector lever to the P o r N position .
Press the [
STOP I button ~ fig. 15 5.
Pressing the ( STO P] but ton once switches off the engine and the
ignition . If you press the ( S T O P! button again for more than 1
second, the steering is locked, provided that the selector leve r is in
the P position
~ & .
Emergency OFF function
If necessary , the engine can be switched off with the selector leve r
in the R, Dor S positions. To do so, step on the brake peda l and
press and hold the ( STOP] button (vehicle speed must be less than
6 mph/ 10 km /h. .,,_
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

________________________________________________ ....:..A.:.:u=- d =-=- i ..:S:.: i.=d :.:e::....: a:.: S::.: S:::: i:.:: S :.:t:....__1111
Deactivating
- Press t he button again . T he ind icato r light on the butto n
goes out.
T he system works at speeds faster than 19 mph (30 km/h) .
& WARNING
• Improper reliance on the side assist system can cause colli­
sions and seriou s per sonal injury:
- Never rely only on side assist when changing lanes .
- Always check rear view mirrors to make sure that it is safe to
c hange lanes.
• Side assist cannot detect all vehicles under all conditions­
danger of accident!
• Side assist cannot detect vehicles in time to alert you when
they approach from behind at very high speed , or fall drop back
very quickly.
• The radar sensor's
vision can be reduced or entirely blocked by
rain , snow, and heavy spray . This can result in side assist not
adequately detecting veh icles or , in some cases, not detecting
them at all . Always keep an eye on the direction you are traveling
and the relevant area around the vehicle.
• Please note that side assi st indicates there are approaching
vehicles, or vehicles in your bl ind spot , only after your vehicle has
reached a driving speed of at lea st 19 mph (30 km /h).
• Side assist signal does not work around tight corners (turning
radiu s less than 328 feet , or 100 m l.
• Side assist is no replacement for the driver's full attention . The
d river alone is responsible for lane changes and similar driv ing
maneuvers. Always keep an eye on the d ire ction you are travel ing
and the relevant area around the vehicle .
Controls and equip ­
ment
0 Note
• To e nsu re t hat you do not adverse ly a ffect s ide assist, do not
b lock the area on the rear bumper where the radar sensors are
located w it h f oreign objects (s uch as st ickers or bicycle rac ks).
• M ake su re that the signal light on the o utside mi rror is not
b loc ked by st ic ke rs or ot her items.
[ i ] Tips
• Side ass ist automaticall y deact ivates i f it detects t hat t he ra dar
sensors are blocked=>
page 181. The indicator light on the button
goes out.
• The area on the bumper whe re the rada r sen so rs a re loca ted
must cons iste ntly re mai n fr ee o f snow, ice, and heavy so iling so t hat
side assist can function properly. Follow the additiona l notes on
=>
page 182.
• F or vehicle s with a factory insta lled towing hitch* or a t railer
hi tc h* th at was installed later accordi ng to factory speci ficat ions,
side assist is automatically deactivated as soon as the electrical
co nnect ion to the tra iler elec trical socket is m ade =>
page 181 .
• For vehicle s with a t raile r hitch that was not insta lled acco rding
t o factory speci ficat io ns, sw itch off t he side assis t w hen towi ng a
trai le r.
• Add itiona l tin ting on the front side w indows can make it harder
to see and co rrect ly understand the signal light on the outside
mi rror.
• Fo r Decla ration of Comp liance to Uni ted States FCC and Ind ust ry
Canada regula tions=>
page 404. •
I • •